Recent dry conditions have increased the danger of brush fires in New Hampshire.

Fire officials said sunny, windy days have led to a high risk of brush fires. They said this time of year can be particularly dangerous.

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"Things haven't greened up yet," said Capt. Bryan Nowell of the New Hampshire Forestry Department. "We have some very low relative humidity, gusty breezes and the direct sunlight. If it gets an ignition source, it can spread quickly."

Firefighters said the quick snow melt has left a dry layer of grass and leaves on the ground.

"Today is a Class III day, so the adjective is 'high.' It's a high fire danger," Nowell said. "We haven't had any rain. It doesn't look like we have any in the forecast, so we're asking people to have a lot of caution doing outside fires."

In Salem, officials are still issuing burn permits, but they are asking everyone to use extreme caution. With cold evenings, officials are warning people to be careful when disposing of fireplace and wood stove ash.

They also said something as simple as a stray cigarette can cause a big problem.

"You discard a cigarette out your window, you don't know where it's going to end up," said Jeff Emanuelson of the Salem Fire Department. "It could end up in bark mulch or areas around businesses or around a residence. That's just an ignition source that allows a fire to get started."

Officials said everyone should remember that it takes only a few seconds for a brush fire to start.